Weber’s U.S. Open performance: Legacy or lunacy?

By now, I am sure most of you have seen Pete Weber’s “performance” during the U.S. Open television finals this past Sunday.

There is no doubting the talent the man possesses, or the amazing, almost unthinkable feat he achieved by winning an incomprehensible fifth U.S. Open title.

However, a lingering question remains after the broadcast, and that is: Was the end result of his record breaking victory a testament to his legacy or another example of his lunacy?

Before delving into the borderline strange, numerous outbursts during the course of the 90-plus minutes, there should be no debate to Pete’s place in history.

He is absolutely in the conversation for greatest bowler of all time, and to have the ability to win a hard to believe fifth U.S. Open, at almost 50, on the most demanding condition there is, under a physically grueling format having to bowl 50 games before even making the telecast, well, it’s beyond incredible.

Even more impressive is how his form has seemed to barely change, other then the timing perhaps on his first step, in the past 15 years or more.
It’s very difficult to imagine another bowler winning five U.S. Open titles, and what is to follow should in no way demean the accomplishment.

That reads like a rather long preface, doesn’t it?

Here goes: His actions during the show where deplorable. Simple as that.

I perused the PBA Forum earlier today to try and dig into the cause of the constant distraction that caused Pete to erupt over and over again like a volcano.

There were a litany of guesses (or excuses), but the surprising part was in reading the unending support he received. They ranged from allowance, to endorsement, to encouragement, to a bewildering degree.

How can his actions be viewed as anything other than an embarrassment for the sport?

It was like watching a temper tantrum being rewound by John Madden and his coaches clicker over and over. He acted like the league bowler we all know far to well — you know, the guy who demands 13 lanes of courtesy before a shot can be thrown, as if he is deciphering hieroglyphics as a way of code breaking for the U.S. government, all while awaiting the start of his approach.

Even the slightest of noises causes an instantaneous meltdown and everyone is subject to the wrath. Everyone, please stop breathing while someone is attempting to bowl.

With all the media coverage and replays of Pete’s victory celebration being shown all over the place, it seems this could be an impetus for more bowlers to act the same way.

It’s obviously OK if it’s in the name of press coverage and ratings, right? Why not start throwing things next time? And the time after that, break something with a bowling ball? Would there be an end in sight? Where is the line exactly, especially once it has been crossed?

Instead of advertising that the pro tour is in town, instead announce that the bowling circus has arrived, and all the players can wear clown noses.

Yes, I’ve taken this too far, but in the name of sanity, it had to be done.

After reading that Pete explained on the radio it was a pair of ladies and a young boy that were causing all the problems, this cannot be acceptable on any level.

I am all for showmanship, and for the bowlers to put on a show, but not in the way that we all experienced watching this past Sunday.

I know most people are tired of hearing the words class and sportsmanship because they equate that with boredom, but it sure would be refreshing to see it for a change.

Is it impossible to bowl well, be a showman in a positive way, and exude class the entire time while doing so?

16 Responses

I love how Randy Pedersen always refers to Pete as “that’s a bad man”. At one point in the telecast he said something like “I know I don’t want to get on his bad side”. Why not? Pete Weber weighs all of 120 lbs. Good for him and his attitude, but does Randy really think Weber would take a swing at anyone? He has to yell at the women and children, cause a normal sized adult male would likely snap him in half. I’ve experienced a stare down from Pete first hand back in the early 90’s. I wasn’t intimidated then…and I certainly wouldn’t be now.
He’s beyond talented, no doubt. And I’m all for crotch chops and slapping shots out and all that. But the constant berating was ridiculous. Nobody else on the show was bothered. Maybe Pete just needs to stay focused on whats going on directly in front of him.
Just my 2 cents

Pete’s a jerk. My wife and I rooted against hi and the crotch chopping that means “suck this” is twisted. He’s making bowling like WWF. I think it was all to break his opponents concentration.
maybe he should bowl in a mixed league as punsihment.

to play devils advocate I’m curious that if the audience members were being so disruptive what was the tournament directors involvement in resurecting the situation before things got really out of hand. Was Pete getting any support from the tournament director to resolve the situation or was it making him madder that nothing was being done? I’m just curious. I’m not saying what he did was OK.

If the cause of the disruption was the kid and two ladies, it would have been very tough for Kirk to ask a little boy and his mother, presumably, to leave a show due to nothing more than trying to watch the bowlers bowl.
Shouldn’t Pete have been focused enough not to see anything on the side of him?

Would the PGA ask someone to leave if they were disruptive in some way to a famous golfer? I think they would. No matter what age or gender I think fans should be aware that when watching something live like golf or bowling they’re supposed to be quiet and still until after the action of swinging the club or throwing the ball. If the ladies couldn’t control or stop the little boy from being distracting they should have excused themselves and been a bit more respectful to the pros. I agree, Pete should have been more focused on the lanes and not the audience…but how many times have you seen Tiger Woods stop and ask audience/fans to stop their cameras or make more room. I think it’s the bowlers right to ask for what ever disturbance is going on to stop and if the tournament directer isn’t doing anything about it if it continues I’d be upset too. I woudn’t have handled it the same way as Pete but lets try to put ourselves in his shoes too. Not just the antics that we saw on TV (which I don’t agree wit).

I strongly agree with comment #3~ We have met Pete in the past and I tell everyone, every chance I get…how much of a jerk he is. He will never be the best in my eyes. Walter Ray Williams is the best- and he is the type of bowler, kids should look up to, not Pete Weber by any means. I wish anyone would have won anyone but him ! If the fans were being disruptive, they would have been asked to at leave.

I noticed that Belmonte was drinking his water out of a glass and sitting as quietly as an ill-behaved schoolboy outside the principal’s office when Pete was on the approach. Maybe Pete was primed to go after Jason, but Jason outsmarted him by not giving him an opening. Then Pete, looking for trouble, found it in the audience. Why? Either to get himself pumped up, as Pederson suggested, or just to amuse himself, who knows? Pure speculation, I know, but it wouldn’t surprise me.

What’s the big deal if this was the NFL nobody would care.Why do bowlers who make peanuts have to be held to such high standards while NFL,NBA,and MLB players get arrested for murder,rape,drugs,and are idolized.I think Pete Weber is great for bowling and would love to see him on every week.

Re: 8
If bowlers want to lower themselves to the level of the major sports’ figures then by all means act like Pete Weber. If bowling wants to maintain high ethics, moral responsibility, family values, and sportsmanship; then Pete Weber’s behavior should not be tolerated.

Many consider bowling a leisure activity and not a sport anyway. Weber’s tirade lacked fundamental professionalism and respect for bowling, and lends further credance to it being a leisure activity.

@ Surinder…… Those who like to take the family for a few games of bowling and pizza consider bowling a leisure activity and thats fine. But pro bowling is anything but leisure, especially the U.S. Open. 50 games in a few short days on the toughest conditions. Its just as much of a mental strain as it is physical.

I have no problem with Petes antics. He is who he is. Its ok for Manny to be Manny right? Well thats what you get with Pete Weber. And as far as somene “breathing” or moving in the crowd, it can be a major distraction. During qualifying there are hundreds of guys bowling around you, but match play on Tv, it is quiet and nobody is moving. The slightest movement or sound can be a distraction. Who would want any type of distraction while bowling for 60k.

I agree Tommy (#8). Pete Weber has always been and always will be my favorite pro bowler. I myself had the pleasure of meeting him and bowling with him at a pro-am at the Bowler Club many years ago and he was very much approachable and acted every bit the gentleman. I don’t believe there has ever been a more talented bowler on tour. Sure he’s had his troubles and demons to contend with, but who hasn’t. Some people may not like his antics,but regardless, when he is on TV bowling ratings go up and the tour will not punish him because he brings in viewers. Bottom line, deal with it people! Do you go up to the person in your league and yell at them because they yelled or distracted you from many lanes over? Get over it! PDW Rules!

@Tommy: I don’t get the line of thinking exhibited here. Shouldn’t every person, in every walk of life, be held to at least reasonable standards of conduct? It’s considered a high standard to not chastise a little kid? To act like a petulant 5 year old? To not throw a celebration on a grand scale in the face of the kid and the ladies with him after Pete won? His self aggrandizing behavior was and is in incredibly poor taste. To try and justify his pathetic display of sportsmanship (why didn’t the ghastly offender bother any of the other 3 competitors?) by saying it’s ok in other sports (it’s clearly not) is unacceptable and it’s the worst kind of common denominator thinking. Is it too much to ask for anyone to act with class and grace? I know that’s considered boring, and it’s all about style in lieu of substance now, but in the end, you are your attitude and your actions, and that forms your reputation, which generates your reflection, and that is what people see. Therefore, if you act like a clown, you then have no right to be upset when someone calls you a bozo.

@Rich: I have heard many people that Pete has treated very well. That does not excuse his display this past Sunday, however. His fire, his passion, his zeal for the game are all welcome. His shoddy sportsmanship however was most unwelcome, and should not be allowed, perhaps more so because of who he is, as being a prime example of how not to act. Perhaps if we stopped giving allowances to such behavior from people of importance, perceived or not, the collective attitude of people might improve.

On your point about being distracted, perhaps bowlers with problems in that area should be equipped with blinkers, like a horse? Mandatory eyeware I say!

Food for thought…the ratings for the Open were 25% higher than last year’s open. PBA made sure that it was known that Weber made the show. Pro bowling on TV is boring, especially the taped shows. This one being a live show gave the PBA an opportunity to win back it’s lost fan base. I’m willing to bet that they gave Weber plenty of leash to make the show exciting, and he did. It was a great show and if they were all like this I would watch every week. This was the first show I watched from start to finish in three years. The show was the talk around the nation on many non-sport shows. PBA has to be happy.

Did anyone see this show last night called “Chelsea Lately”. Its on I think the E-entertainment chanel. Her opening last night was about pete weber and bowling. No one else in the sport of bowling could get the PBA on a show like that…..with that said, I don’t care for how he acted but to each their own. What he does doesn’t effect me and shouldn’t affect anyone else either. But we live in this wonderful country where we’re all entilted to our own opinons. Look at all the dialogue this has created. Not a bad thing.

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